Sacrifice

Chapter 31 - The Offer

Kalli and Bhirdan met the Emperor in a private room adjacent to where the press had gathered.

"Who's this?" the Emperor asked, eyeing Kalli with distain as she executed a curtsy.

"Father this is Lady Kallistrate al Aratina, Daughter of Lord Hummad dir Liran, Chancellor of the City."

Bhirdan paused, but his father didn't give Kalli leave to rise from her curtsy.

"I was with her this evening, as I had planned to be for nearly a month. The South Desert Theatre troop is willing to attest to this. She has also consented to take part in the ember ceremony with me."

The Emperor cast another critical eye on Kalli and then left. Bhirdan assisted Kalli to rise from her curtsy. She was pale and trembled slightly from exertion and nerves.

"Pay no mind to my father," Bhirdan murmured. "It's I that he is upset with, not you."

Kalli nodded faintly.

"You can still back out if you want," he offered, concerned by her nervousness.

"No," Kalli answered. "What type of a friend would I be if I abandoned you to the ravenous hoards?"

Bhirdan gave Kalli's hand a quick squeeze. "It will all be over in a moment. Let me do most of the talking."

# # #

Kalli followed Bhirdan out onto the balcony and stopped dead in her tracks as what seemed to be a hundred recorders swung her way, blinding her. Bhirdan seemed to sense her hesitation and circled her waist with his arm, leading her to the railing where the Emperor already stood.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the press," the Emperor was saying, "I would like to take this time to present you with my son Crown Prince Bhirdan dir Hammir, Duke of Wessinton, Lord of the Southern Colonies and General of the Imperial Space Expedition who would like to clarify the occurrences of this evening." The Emperor stepped back and nodded at his son to take his place.

Bhirdan addressed the crowd, and Kalli saw Lacey standing to the side. Someone had found her a thicker robe.

"There have been reports that I asked Lady Lacey al Olinara to my rooms this evening in the promise that if she did I would choose her to take part in the ember ceremony with me, this is a lie."

Lacey took a step towards Bhirdan, but Bhirdan pressed on ignoring her.

"I've spent the evening with Lady Kallistrate al Aratina at the South Desert Theatre, an engagement which had been planned for well over a month. If there is any doubt as to my words, the artistic director, Mr. Rickerson, has assured me that both he and his troop will be available to answer your questions."

Bhirdan spared a quick glance at Lacey whose face paled at the destruction of her reputation.

"Furthermore," Bhirdan continued, "I'm pleased to announce that Lady al Aratina has consented to take part in the ember ceremony with me."

There was excited chatter from the crowd, and most of the recorders turned from the Prince to her. Bhirdan motioned her over, and she joined him at the railing.

"Is this all true?" shouted one of the reporters at the front of the mass.

Bhirdan nodded at her so Kalli answered. "Yes it is."

Questions burst forth from many of the reporters, but the one that Kalli heard clearest was from a young female reporter.

"What will you wear to the ember ceremony?"

The other reporters hushed slightly to hear Kalli's response to this question.

"A dress I would expect." Kalli answered in surprise.